Maintenance
How often to do the routine stuff, and what actually matters.
10 answers
Is it bad to let my car sit all winter? How do I keep the battery and tires from going bad?
Letting a car sit is fine if you prepare it; the usual casualties are a dead battery (Consumer Reports says even a week or two parked can drain one), flat-spotted tires, and mice in the engine bay. Either drive it at least 20 minutes every week or two, or store it properly: hook up a smart battery maintainer, fill the tank, change the oil if it's due, set the tire pressure, skip the parking brake, and block the openings rodents use.
How often should I wash my car in winter to get the road salt off?
Wash it about every two weeks during salt season, and sooner after driving on heavily salted roads; that's the AAA and NAPA rule, while Consumer Reports sets the floor at once a month. The part that matters most is the underside, so pick a wash with an underbody spray: salt sits on brake lines, suspension and the frame, where AAA says the damage is easy to miss.
My car door or lock is frozen shut. How do I open it without breaking anything?
For a door that's frozen to its seal, push firmly into the door a few times to crack the ice, then pull; try the other doors and the hatch too. For a frozen key lock, spray lock de-icer into it, or coat the key in alcohol hand sanitizer and ease it in, wait 30 seconds and turn; never force the key or pour hot water into the lock.
What washer fluid should I use in winter, and what do I do if it freezes?
Use a winter-blend washer fluid whose label rating is colder than the coldest temperature you drive in (many are rated around -20°F; some go to -50°F), and run the old summer fluid out before you fill up, because summer fluid is mostly water and dilutes the winter blend. If it has already frozen, don't keep pressing the washer button: let it thaw in a warm garage or as the engine warms up, then refill with full-strength winter fluid.
How do I defrost a frozen windshield fast, and is hot water safe?
Start the engine, set the heater to defrost with the temperature on full heat, and once the ice starts to soften, clear it with a plastic scraper; a de-icer spray (store-bought, or rubbing alcohol mixed with water) speeds it up when the ice is thick. Don't pour hot or even warm water on the glass: AAA says the sudden temperature change can crack the windshield.
How do I drive on ice, and what do I do if my car starts to skid?
Slow down well below the limit, leave far more room than usual, keep cruise control off, and do one thing at a time, smoothly, braking early and gently. If the car starts to skid, take your foot off the gas, don't slam the brakes, look where you want to go and steer there with small, smooth corrections; if you must brake hard and have ABS, press firmly and hold it even when the pedal pulses.
How do I get my car unstuck from snow?
Clear the tailpipe first, then shovel snow away from the tires and from under the car, straighten the wheels, turn traction control off, and ease forward in the lowest gear with light throttle. If the tires spin, stop, put sand, cat litter or your floor mats in front of the drive wheels, and gently rock forward and back, coming to a full stop before every gear change; if a few tries don't work, call roadside assistance instead of spinning the tires or forcing it.
What should I keep in my car in winter in case I get stranded?
Keep a snow brush and ice scraper, a small shovel, sand or cat litter for traction, jumper cables or a charged jump pack, a flashlight with spare batteries, reflective triangles or flares, a first-aid kit, blankets plus a hat, gloves and boots, water and nonperishable snacks, any medicine you need, and a phone charger or power bank. That's the core list NHTSA, the National Weather Service and AAA all recommend; if you do get stranded, stay with the car and run the engine only about 10 minutes an hour with the tailpipe clear.
Should I warm up my car in winter, and for how long?
Not for long. A modern fuel-injected car is fully lubricated within 20 to 30 seconds of starting, so start it, give it about 30 seconds to a minute while you buckle up, then drive off gently and skip hard acceleration until the temperature gauge starts to move. Driving warms the engine faster than idling, and long idling just burns fuel; the main reason to idle longer is to clear ice and fog from the windows so you can see.
How often should I really change my oil?
Change your oil when your owner's manual or the car's oil-life monitor says to. For most modern cars that's well beyond the old "every 3,000 miles" rule, but you should use the manual's severe-service schedule if you mostly drive short trips, tow, or drive in extreme heat, cold or dust.